“It just feels right”: Perceptions of the effects of community connectedness among trans individuals

Bowling, Jessamyn; Barker, J.P.; Gunn, Laura H; Lace, Tatim

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0240295

Cited by 27 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…It may also be that transgender people with higher levels of internalized transphobia are less likely to use coping strategies that rely on connection to the transgender community as a method of avoiding triggering a sense of shame (Budge et al, 2013; Lee et al, 2001). This could be impactful, as an emerging body of literature proposes that connection to, support from, and belonging within the transgender community are key factors in trans people’s positive mental health outcomes (e.g., Austin & Goodman, 2017; Barr et al, 2016; Bowling et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic stress in the trans community: The roles of anti-transgender bias, non-affirmation, and internalized transphobia.

Barr¹,

Snyder²,

Adelson³

et al. 2022

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Transgender people have higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population. This risk can be partially understood by conceptualizing day-to-day bias-related stressors and nonaffirmation as potentially traumatic, but there is currently limited empirical evidence to support such a framework. This study aimed to explore this framework by testing the hypothesis that exposure to antitransgender bias and non-affirmation are related to PTSD symptom severity, even after controlling for exposure to traditionally defined potentially traumatic events. Drawing upon shame-based models of PTSD, this study also tested the hypothesis that internalized transphobia partially mediates the relationships between both bias and non-affirmation and PTSD symptom severity. Cross-sectional data were collected online from 575 individuals who identified as having a gender different from their sex assigned at birth. Data were analyzed utilizing structural equation modeling. As hypothesized, participants with greater exposure to anti-transgender bias and higher levels of non-affirmation experiences had increased PTSD symptom severity, even after controlling for exposure to other trauma. These relationships were partially explained by internalized transphobia. These findings document meaningful relationships between anti-transgender bias, non-affirmation, internalized transphobia, and posttraumatic stress. They provide initial support for conceptualizing anti-transgender bias and non-affirmation experiences as potentially traumatic themselves and/or as trauma response triggers and highlight a potential role of internalized transphobia in PTSD symptoms. Clinical implications for working with trans populations are discussed. Public Significance StatementThis study found that anti-transgender bias, non-affirmation of gender, and internalized transphobia were related to PTSD symptom severity. When psychologists or the general public make efforts to understand trans people's increased rates of PTSD symptoms and diagnoses-or participate in efforts to improve mental health in the trans community-they should attend to anti-transgender bias, non-affirmation, and internalized transphobia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic stress in the trans community: The roles of anti-transgender bias, non-affirmation, and internalized transphobia.

Barr¹,

Snyder²,

Adelson³

et al. 2022

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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show abstract

“…and these mental health disparities are even larger compared to urbanliving peers (13,14). Community resilience, community support, and community connectedness protect against social isolation and negative mental health outcomes and could motivate LGBTQ youth to engage in online communities (15,16,(56)(57)(58). However, those resources might not be as available to LGBTQ youth in rural areas, where close-knit communities value familiarity and sameness (17,18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Social Media Experiences and Attitudes Toward Technology-Based Interventions for Reducing Social Isolation Among LGBTQ Youth Living in Rural United States: An Online Qualitative Study

Escobar-Viera

Choukas‐Bradley

Sidani

et al. 2022

Front. Digit. Health

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PurposeLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth living in rural areas who feel isolated are at high risk of depression and suicidality. Given the lack of support in their offline communities, many rural-living LGBTQ youth turn to social media for social support. In this qualitative study, we examined rural LGBTQ youth's social media experiences and attitudes toward technology-based interventions for reducing perceived isolation.MethodIn Spring 2020, we conducted online interviews with LGBTQ youth aged 14-19, living in rural areas of the United States, who screened positive for perceived social isolation (n = 20; 11 cisgender sexual minority, 9 transgender). Interviews examined (1) supportive social media experiences, (2) personal strategies to improve social media experiences, and (3) perspective on potential digital intervention delivery modalities. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsRelated to supportive content and interactions, themes included (1) positive representation of and connecting with LGBTQ groups on social media are important; (2) content from people with shared experience feels supportive, and (3) lack of feedback to one's experiences is isolating. Regarding personal strategies to improve social media experiences, themes were (1) selecting platforms to connect with different audiences helps make for a more enjoyable social media experience, and (2) several social media platform features can help make for a safer social media experience. Youth discussed advantages and disadvantages of intervention delivery via a mobile app, social media pages or groups, conversational agents (chatbots), and a dedicated website.ConclusionViewing positive representation of and connecting with LGBTQ groups, content from people shared experiences, and utilizing a wide array of platform features to increase the likelihood of positive connections are key to a positive social media experience among this group. Combining delivery modalities is key to engaging rural-living LGBTQ youth in digitally delivered support interventions to reduce perceived isolation. Our results inform future intervention research and conversations about social determinants of health between providers and rural LGBTQ patients.

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“…‘being able to stop that [hate] and rise each other up more, like bring each other’s spirits up and bringing people’s self-worth up’). At times this meant being publicly visible to increase safety and social acceptance for other trans women, signalling the powerful role of community connectedness and cohesion in normalizing experiences and advancing safety among trans communities ( Bowling et al , 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eliciting critical hope in community-based HIV research with transgender women in Toronto, Canada: methodological insights

Logie

Kinitz

Gittings

et al. 2022

Health Promotion International

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Summary Critical hope centres optimism and possibilities for change in the midst of struggles for social justice. It was a central tenet of early participatory pedagogy and HIV research. However, critical hope has been overlooked in contemporary HIV research that largely focuses on risk and biomedical interventions in ways that obscure collective agency and community strengths. We conducted a community-based study with transgender (trans) women of colour in Toronto, Canada to adapt an evidence-based HIV prevention intervention. Participants resisted a focus on HIV, instead calling researchers to centre journeys to self-love in contexts of social exclusion. In response, we piloted three arts-based, participatory methods generated with community collaborators: (i) affirmation cards sharing supportive messages with other trans women, (ii) hand-held mirrors for reflecting and sharing messages of self-acceptance and (iii) anatomical heart images to visualize coping strategies. Participants generated solidarity and community through shared stories of self-acceptance within contexts of pain, exclusion and loss. Narratives revealed locating agency and self-acceptance through community connectedness. Critical hope was a by-product of this participatory process, whereby participants shared personal and collective optimism. Participatory and arts-based methods that centre self-acceptance and solidarity can nurture resistance to pathologizing discourses in HIV research. Centring critical hope and participant-generated methodologies is a promising approach to transformative health promotion and intervention research. These methodological insights can be engaged in future participatory work with other marginalized groups facing dominant biomedical risk discourses. Critical hope holds potential as a participatory health promotion strategy for envisioning possibilities for sustainable change.

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“It just feels right”: Perceptions of the effects of community connectedness among trans individuals

Cited by 27 publications

References 50 publications

Posttraumatic stress in the trans community: The roles of anti-transgender bias, non-affirmation, and internalized transphobia.

Posttraumatic stress in the trans community: The roles of anti-transgender bias, non-affirmation, and internalized transphobia.

Examining Social Media Experiences and Attitudes Toward Technology-Based Interventions for Reducing Social Isolation Among LGBTQ Youth Living in Rural United States: An Online Qualitative Study

Eliciting critical hope in community-based HIV research with transgender women in Toronto, Canada: methodological insights

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